Skeggsy’s Blog

Up about 7:00am. Stopped at supermarkt for breakfast on way to station and to buy supplies for our long train trip to Krakow. Train departs at 09:40 from Berlin Hbf. Border crossing to Poland approx 11:45am. Border police very through and walked off with our passports for 5 worrying minutes, not sure if they were going to jump off train and run off with them. The problem was that they did not know of Lewisham, but they were happy when explained that Lewisham is in London. Landscape for first half of journey is forest, farmland and small settlements. More opportunities to see live venison in the wild.
Train passes through Wroclaw at 15:30.
Train passes through Katowice at 18:14. Arrived Krakow 19:44. Caught a taxi to hotel on miodawa, 1.7km 18 zl. Walked to main square and had dinner in Wierzynek. Bill was 465 zl (£106). I had smoked assorted fish (salmon, eel and sturgeon) followed by venison seasoned with juniper. Finished off with tokai 1995 puttynos 5. Yam had herring followed by beef and then a Polish coffee (with Krupnik). Had a walk round square and then walked back to apartment (1 km).
Got back about 12:30.

Deluxe sleeper cabin on our train to Berlin is as described and includes a shower and toilet and bunk beds. Wake up call at 07:00 includes coffee and breakfast (roll,croisant and juice). Sat back and enjoyed the scenery roll by. Saw some deer and also a springer spaniel chasing the train. Train arrives Berlin hbf about 08:20. Hbf is impressive. Paid €0.80 to use ultra clean toilet. Bought a day ticket for €6.20 then walked 1100m to Reichstag. Joined queue 09:30am. Got in finally at about 11:00am. Walked to top of dome (designed by Norman Foster). Walked to Brandonburg Gate. Had a currywurst, chips and coffee from a roadside hut for €5.40. Walked/metro’d to Checkpoint Charlie. Then metro’d to Oranien-burger Tor and trekked to Kuchi where I had a strawberry calpico, red snapper and sushi. Total bill inc tip €30.
Took train to warschaemer st to see East Side Gallery, the remaining 1.3km section of the Berlin wall that is now covered in graffiti art.
Took metro/trains to hbf to pick up luggage and then to Savignyplatz and walked to our hotel (Imperial Hotel) to check in.
Took train to Hackescher Markt for food in evening. Went in Rocco. Nice location and meal was cheap at €24 for two mains and two drinks but won’t win any medals for the food or service. Back along Savignyplatz had a hot chocolate with cream and apfelstrudel with custard, Yamini had coffee and ice cream. This came to €10.50. Could live down this street!

Eurostar departs 12:57pm from st.pancreas, arrives at 16:03 in brussels. Had a hot choc for €1.75 and then put bag in left luggage €3.00. Bought metro day pass for €4 and took metro 2 to arts loi and then changed to metro 1a going to heysel. Arrived about 17:30 to see the Atomium. Then took metro 1a to saint catherine for some food. Went to La Melodie on boulevard emile jacqmain. Ordered a duvel for €3 and calzone for €11. Yam had grilled tuna for €13 and orange juice for €2.20. Total €29. Took a metro to central square and saw maniquin piss. Walked through Galeries St Hubert, built in 1847, the grande dame of Brussels shopping arcades includes Neuhaus, a chocolate shop est in 1857. Purchased 4 begian chocolates for €2.47 from Corne Port Royal Chocalatiers. Walked down Rue des Bouchers. Went for a beer in LeRoy D’Espagne, Grand Place - another Duvel (€5.90) for me and a juice (3.90) for Yamini. At least the nuts are free. Had another Duvel and then some more chocolates on the way to bruxelles midi for our sleeper train to Berlin at 23:41.